Company Directory

Biodiversity-derived protein data and AI models for biological design

Basecamp Research is a London-based biotech company that collects biological samples from extreme environments across more than 26 countries, building a proprietary metagenomic database of over ten billion novel protein sequences from more than one million previously unrecorded species. This dataset trains large AI foundation models for designing novel proteins and genetic medicines. The company partners with pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and industrial organisations under ethically-sourced biodiversity agreements.

Microbially produced leather alternative for luxury fashion

Replica Biomaterials is an industrial biotechnology company developing sustainable leather alternatives using engineered microbes. Its fermentation-based platform grows microbial biomaterials that are animal-free and petrochemical-free, with built-in customisable colour, eliminating the tanning and dyeing processes associated with conventional leather production. Products are designed for the luxury fashion industry. The company is supported by Innovate UK and the Science Creates accelerator.

Synthetic promoter platform for precision gene expression control

Chromatin Bioscience designs synthetic promoters and gene expression control systems for cell and gene therapy developers. Its platform uses bioinformatics to identify cell-type-selective regulatory elements from the human genome, which are assembled into novel synthetic promoters enabling precise, durable and targeted transgene expression. The company's promoters are integrated into partner programmes across oncology, nephrology and rare disease gene therapies, with a clinical-stage collaboration supporting an in vivo CAR-T candidate for multiple myeloma.

AI-designed protein fibres as sustainable alternatives to synthetic textiles

Solena Materials is an industrial biotechnology company developing a new class of protein-based fibres for the fashion and performance apparel sectors. Using proprietary deep learning models and computational protein design, the company engineers novel proteins from first principles, which are then produced using engineered microorganisms. The resulting fibres are biodegradable and free of petrochemical inputs, targeting both luxury and high-performance textile applications.

Xeno nucleic acid binders for targeted drug delivery

Xterna is a biotechnology company developing cell-specific molecular binders composed of xeno nucleic acids (XNAs), chemically modified nucleic acids distinct from naturally occurring DNA and RNA. XNA-based binders are engineered to target cell types that evade conventional antibody-based approaches, enabling drug delivery to previously inaccessible tissues. The platform is designed to carry nucleic acid therapeutic payloads, improving delivery precision and reducing off-target effects.

Plant protein materials replacing plastics and microplastics

Xampla is a Cambridge-based materials innovation company developing plant protein-based alternatives to single-use plastics and synthetic microplastics. Its range of products includes biodegradable coatings, soluble films, edible films, and microcapsules derived from sustainable vegetable proteins such as pea, rapeseed and sunflower. Applications span food and beverage packaging, homecare, personal care, and active ingredient encapsulation. Xampla's technology, rooted in protein self-assembly research, is the basis of partnerships with major FMCG and packaging brands globally.

Bio-inspired adhesion peptides for medical and industrial use

Zentraxa is a biomaterials company engineering bio-inspired adhesion peptides using a proprietary synthetic peptide manufacturing platform. Inspired by marine mollusc chemistry, the platform designs and produces novel peptides with exceptional adhesion properties in wet and submerged environments. Medical applications include advanced wound dressings and ostomy bag seals. The company also develops performance-enhancing peptide ingredients for industrial and personal care sectors.

Microbial fermentation platforms for sustainable commodity chemicals

C3 Biotechnologies is a UK industrial biotechnology company engineering microbial strains and fermentation processes to convert waste carbon streams into bio-based commodity chemicals and sustainable fuels. Operating from a pilot plant in Stockport, the company uses synthetic biology and continuous fermentation under non-sterile conditions to produce drop-in alternatives to petrochemicals, including sustainable aviation fuel and acrylic glass precursors. Customers include defence organisations and industrial manufacturers seeking low-carbon supply chains.

Engineered bacteria to remodel the tumour microenvironment

Neobe Therapeutics is a UK synthetic biology company developing programmable live biotherapeutics that colonise solid tumours and disrupt the local microenvironment to enable immune cell infiltration. The platform engineers tumour-colonising bacteria to break down stromal barriers that exclude immune cells, aiming to increase response rates to existing immunotherapies in patients with immune-cold tumours. Lead programmes target colorectal and pancreatic cancers, with first-in-human trials planned for 2027.

Semiconductor platform for benchtop gene synthesis

Evonetix is a company developing a semiconductor chip platform for de novo gene synthesis. Its silicon array technology uses thermal control and on-chip error correction to enable accurate, gene-length DNA synthesis at the benchtop, with applications across engineering biology, medicine, agriculture, and materials science. The company has raised approximately $70 million in funding and is progressing towards commercial scale-up.

Directed evolution platform engineering microbes for industrial biomanufacturing

Evolutor is a biotechnology company developing directed evolution technologies to enhance microbial performance for industrial biomanufacturing. Its proprietary genetic toolbox links bacterial cell fitness to recombinant protein production rates, generating evolved production strains with substantially improved protein titres. The company offers co-development partnerships and licensing of pre-evolved chassis microbes, and is building towards an automated evolutionary biofoundry integrating genetic engineering, custom hardware, and generative AI.

AI-driven intron technology to enhance transgene expression

ExpressionEdits is a biotechnology company developing computational tools to improve protein expression from artificial gene constructs. Its Genetic Syntax Engine uses machine learning and biological data to predict optimal intron insertion patterns within transgenes, increasing protein production levels in mammalian systems. The platform has applications across gene therapy, biologics development and recombinant protein manufacturing. The company is a spin-out from the University of Cambridge and has a collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim.